A tourist enjoying a beach vacation in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, was knocked out by a coconut that fell from a palm tree. The fruit fell from a height of about 3 meters and hit the woman on the head, causing her to pass out for several minutes, the Vallarta Daily reports.
Lifeguards on the beach rushed to provide first aid to the tourist. After that, she came to her senses and continued to enjoy her vacation without undergoing an additional medical examination.
Coconuts grow in many tropical regions where they are used for food, drink, and other purposes. It is widely believed that falling coconuts can cause serious injuries, including concussions. There are no accurate statistical data on this. However, there have been isolated cases of injuries from falling coconuts, including skull fractures and brain injuries. In some cases, they were fatal.
However, the risk of concussion from a coconut falling on your head is quite small. According to research published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, the risk of being hit by a falling coconut is about one in 250 million. This means you are more likely to be struck by lightning or eaten by a shark.
Of course, this does not mean the risk of falling coconuts can be completely ignored. When resting next to coconut trees, you need to take precautions – do not sit or walk directly under them, and pay attention to the warning signs that are posted if the palm tree is leaning or has dry branches.